The race for mayor of Lancaster got thinner Tuesday after Danene Sorace defeated two fellow Democrats to secure her party's nomination and face Republican and independent candidates in November.
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If elected, Sorace said she wants to build on Mayor Rick Gray's accomplishments and improve Lancaster's neighborhoods.

Sorace said she wants to connect a new administration with the mayor's commission to combat poverty. The commission's report and recommendations aim to cut poverty in half in Lancaster in 15 years. Workforce development and having a steady income are substantial parts to reaching that goal, she said.

In order to improve neighborhoods, Sorace said she would focus on addressing fundamental issues such as absentee landlords, litter and trash, park improvements and infrastructure maintenance.

"It's not just going to be the city, but it's going to be in partnership with many organizations and, most importantly, the residents themselves," Sorace said.

Stewart -- Sorace's Republican challenger -- said she plans to focus her campaign on public health and economic development.

Public health issues include everything from childhood obesity and family nutrition to the opioid epidemic and gun violence. Addressing those issues will mean bringing the community together to work with the administration, she said.

Improving the city's economic development will require a complete revamping of how the administration engages with its residents. Stewart said she wants to lower taxes, remove red tape, streamline processes and make things clearer for those that live, work and want to build businesses in Lancaster.

Stewart said she was impressed by all three Democratic challengers. They all ran "stellar campaigns." Stewart said she expects a competitive race in November.

"[Wednesday morning] starts the real work," Stewart said.

The winner in November will replace Gray, who decided not to run for a fourth term after serving for more than 11 years. Gray said he was imposing his own term limit as to not "overstay."